The Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea Peter O'neil Photo: Supplied
Papua New Guinea - evidence
The committal court in Papua New Guinea has found there is sufficient evidence to commit former prime minister Peter O'Neil to the National Court.
In June this year, O'Neil was charged with three counts of giving false evidence in a commission of inquiry into a US$1.2 billion loan acquired in 2014 by his then government.
The Post Courier reports O'Neil looked relaxed outside of court after the ruling on Monday.
He said he welcomed the decision and saw it as an opportunity to test the evidence being brought by the prosecution.
O'Neil also urged his supporters to remain calm and respect the legal process.
Papua New Guinea/Solomon Islands - border
The maritime border between Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands has been officially reopened.
The border has been closed since 2020 under Covid-19 restrictions initiated by the Solomon Islands government.
Solomon Islands Ministry of Foreign Affairs Trade said a ceremony was held at Kangu Beach in South Bougainville to mark the reopening.
A statement said the ceremony was also an opportunity to reaffirm the deep historical, cultural, and economic ties that bind Papua New Guinea through the Bougainville and the Solomon Islands.
Samoa - boat
A new Guardian-class patrol boat to replace the written-off Nafanua II will be handed to Samoa this month.
The Nafanua II was badly damaged in a grounding in 2021, and was beyond repair and tagged for disposal by the Australian government.
The Samoa Observer reports Police Commissioner Auapaau Logoitino Filipo will accompany the Minister of Police Faualo Harry Schuster to attend the handing over ceremony of the new patrol boat in Perth, Western Australia.
The new patrol boat will be in Samoa waters in early 2024.
Samoa - machine
The New Zealand government is loaning the Samoa government a container loading machine to address ground handling equipment failures at the Faleolo International Airport.
Minister for Public Enterprises Leatinuu Wayne So'oialo confirmed the loader will arrive in Apia by ship on November 15.
The Samoa Observer reports Samoa Airways currently provides ground handling services for Air New Zealand and Fiji Airways, but there have been ongoing issues with faulty equipment forcing some flights to leave luggage behind.
Leatinuu said the two faulty loading machines at the airport are working again and will help with loading luggage containers on wide-bodied aircraft along with the loaned equipment from New Zealand.
Fiji - case
The lawyer for the leader of Grace Road has applied for a stay on the removal of Daniel Kim and other members of the group who are currently in Fiji immigration custody.
Simon Ower KC said they are asking to expedite the hearing of the Habeas Corpus matter as Kim has been suffering due to the conditions at the Lautoka remand centre.
A writ of Habeas Corpus protects against unlawful and indefinite imprisonment.
fijivillage.com reports the matter has been adjourned to December 1.
In September, Fiji's Immigration Minister Pio Tikoduadua said Grace Road members had been declared prohibited immigrants after their passports were nullified by the South Korean government.
The members have also been wanted by Interpol since 2018.
Guam - abortion
There's elation among abortion rights advocates in Guam following a decision by the territory's Supreme Court to debunk an old abortion law.
The 1990 law has been unenforced due to a US federal injuction, but the overturning of "Roe vs Wade" last year had prompted anti-abortion law makers to try and lift the injunction.
Pro-Choice Governor Lou Gurrerro filed a petition for the court to determine whether the law was still enforceable.
Guam's Bureau of Women's Affairs director Jayne Flores said she was not surprised by the Supreme Court ruling.